Category: UAE Company Setup
Which of the UAE’s 49 free zones is the one for you?
The first free zone was launched In the UAE in 1985 and has provided a powerful tool for entrepreneurs to launch all manner of companies. As of summer 2018, there are 49 free zones established in the UAE. So, if you’re considering using a free zone as a vehicle for launching your company, it’s worth getting to know the main free zones in the country and what sets them apart. Here, we look at 10 of the most popular free zones in the country.
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Five tips to come up with a winning business idea
Having lots of entrepreneurial spirit is not enough to succeed. You need a solid business idea too – and they’re not always easy to come up with. However, there are proven ways to uncover them. In this article we share five tips, and explain why each one will help you and how to go about it.
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What support can you expect for your startup from Dubai government agencies?
One of the reasons the UAE is so popular for new businesses is because of the promotion and support of startups by both government agencies and other forward-thinking companies. The initiatives on display showcase a desire to encourage business talent to invest in the region and support them in those all-important first years of operation. Here are some examples of the support and opportunities that have been available to startups and how you might be able to benefit.
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Unicorn sighting? What you can learn from the UAE’s billion-dollar frontrunners
Uber. Airbnb. Dropbox. They’re household names – unicorns – all valued at over USD 1bn. But what about the Middle East’s rapidly growing digital disruptors such as Propertyfinder, Wadi and Namshi? These Dubai-based unicorns-in-waiting are attracting huge amounts of investment, underlining the UAE’s status as one of the best places in the world to hatch a technology business. So, what are these UAE startups doing that attracts investors like bees to honey? More importantly, what can you do to follow suit?
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The latest UAE visa changes and how they might impact the economy
During the course of May and June 2018, the UAE Federal Government announced a series of substantial changes to the UAE’s visa system, relaxing certain restrictions and making it easier for individuals and businesses to settle and operate in the country. With many of the reforms set to benefit entrepreneurs and the business community directly, we look at what some of the major policy changes might mean for the UAE’s economy when they take effect in Q4 2018.
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Does size really matter? The ups and downs of owning a microbusiness in the UAE
The dream of business growth is often seen as a desirable progression as part of an entrepreneur’s long-term business plan. But some business owners prefer to keep their business small because they see far greater benefits in running very small ventures. So, is there any good reason not to grow your business if you can acknowledge and mitigate the disadvantages of growth? Here we identify and discuss a few of the key points.
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Confused about sponsoring your dependants? Here’s everything you need to know
Residents of the UAE benefit from a high standard of living and quality of life, and, as an expatriate, the benefits of living in the UAE can extend to your family too. If you’re employed by a business in the UAE, your employer will most likely assist with the process of applying for visas for your dependants. If you are a business owner, however, then you need to make your own application to sponsor your dependants for their visas. But don’t worry, the process is incredibly straightforward – particularly when setting up in a free zone.
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Low-cost training for Dubai startups
Training staff is great for business. But what if you’re a cash-strapped startup? Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a highly-trained, highly motivated workforce without spending a fortune.
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5 benefits of setting up a branch office of your company in the UAE
The UAE’s authorities aim to make it as easy as possible for foreign companies to start a business in the country. This is the guiding idea behind the wide range of options available in the UAE’s free zones, offshore companies and mainland businesses. If you are interested in the UAE market but aren’t necessarily ready to take the plunge and launch a fully-fledged company there, opening a branch office might just be the way to go. There are several different branch office structures, but they all allow a foreign company to establish a presence in the UAE while retaining complete ownership of the business from abroad. This makes them an appealing option for companies that want to ‘test the waters’.
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How to set up a mobile app company in the UAE
Here in the UAE, the app market is even more inviting. Why? Because the Emirates boasts the highest rate of smartphone penetration anywhere in the world. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the country’s tech- and business-savvy population, some 82% of the nation’s estimated 9.5m residents owns a smartphone. The UAE also leads the way in app downloads in the MENA region with over 50% of smartphone users having downloaded more than five apps. The huge popularity of smartphones, and their accompanying apps, has not gone unnoticed in the region. August sees the arrival of the HostApp Summit in the UAE. The summit – the region’s largest mobile application exhibition and conference – will showcase the latest developments and opportunities in the world of mobile applications.
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